F1 - Sutil still pushing for F1 comeback

"I just have to relax and wait for the opportunity"

Throughout Force India’s F1 career, and even earlier during the Silverstone based team’s days as Spyker and Midland, Sutil was regarded as a consistent and reliable race driver.

But he lost his seat to Nico Hulkenberg at the end of last year, also amid the Eric Lux affair in which Sutil was convicted of grievous assault.

Now, without a job at all except expert punditry for German television Sky, the 29-year-old German is making clear his ambition to return to formula one, where he amassed 90 races and almost 100 points since his 2007 debut.

Sutil attended the recent European grand prix at Valencia with his manager Manfred Zimmermann — and was even spotted inside the Force India garage.

Blick newspaper said he could also be a potential replacement for Sauber’s struggling Kamui Kobayashi.

"I would love to race this year, but I just have to relax and wait for the opportunity," Sutil is quoted by the Spanish website Grand-Prix Actual.

"We are in contact and talking with some teams and right now I’m focused on coming back. I hope there’s a seat for me," said the German.

He said he could have targeted a reserve driver’s job for 2012 but "It didn’t interest me".

Sutil is also quoted by the German-language motorsport-magazin.com: "When I return, I will say that this break did me well and was crucial for my second career.

"Of course I would like to be racing but sometimes you just have to be smart enough to learn from your situation. I’ll be stronger when I come back, that’s for sure."

As for the 2012 season, Sutil said it is a "good championship and it’s great to see teams like Williams and Sauber capable of fighting for podiums".